Crystal Rose

Crystal Rose.

The crystal rose's gleam is sad,
When winter's snow-white prose comes along,
To change the joy we briefly had,
And turn to waste the poem's song.

All living things must fade away,
There's no escape, no other plan.
I burn the pages day by day,
And hide from sorrow while I can.

I live, not knowing what it's worth,
As if the secret of the skies
Was given to my soul at birth,
Before the endless time that flies.

All living things must fade away,
There's no escape, no other plan.
I burn the pages day by day,
And hide from sorrow while I can.

No use for talents, hopes, or dreams,
Like broken reeds upon the shore.
I burn what I cannot redeem:
The days' own paper, years' own gray, and more.

Amid the grief that has no name,
Before the ashes, cold and gray,
I realized—though late it came
That flowers are beautiful today.

All living things must fade away,
There's no escape, no other plan.
I burn the pages day by day,
And hide from sorrow while I can.